#241. stephanie & michele

Tonight was CRU's final party of the year. Big Dessert.

Stephanie & Michele dancing. Love these girls.

 Dear Steph, we miss you.

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30 Day Song Challenge

Day 21: A Song you listen to you when you're happy.

"Firework"- Katy Perry

"Do you ever feel like a plastic bag floating through the wind?"

#240. post mayfest

Emily & I were driving by when we saw this a few hours after Mayfest ended.

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30 Day Song Challenge
Day 20: A song you listen to when you're angry
To be honest I really can't recall a specific song that I listen to when I'm angry.
So I'm going to just post any song that I want.

#239. last cooking class ever

If you know me, you know how much I have LOVED my Intro to Culinary Arts class this semester. Sure, I've cooked from time to time with for my family before (most of the time when I wanted something out of my mom) but every single time I would make the same exact dish (chicken parmesan) and follow a fairly simply recipe.
 But now having taken this class, I can confidently tell people "I can cook"..and trust me I'm proud.

Today in class we had to cook one dish to be graded. I got a pork, broccoli and potato recipe.

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30 Day Song Challenge
A Song from your Favorite Album

Guess what my favorite album is currently? Yup. ADELE. But to spare you guys from over-advertising about Adele (which is impossible)... I'll post something from my favorite album from years ago:
A Walk to Remember Soundtrack. "Only Hope"-Switchfoot

This video doesnt have the best quality sound, but how AMAZING is it that Jon Foreman would perform on the side of a street after he just performed at a concert.



I met Jon Foreman two years ago when Switchfoot came to the NY State Fair. I got a poster signed by him, he asked my name, I said Imani..and then wait for it.. JON FOREMAN SAID MY NAME WAS PRETTY. I'm pretty sure I've told that story a million times, it never gets old.
Moral of the story- Jon Foreman is the coolest guy around.

#238. much needed caffeine

This morning I tried to brew coffee without putting in the coffee filter or the coffee grinds.
Needless to say, this cup of coffee helped my brain cells come along a bit..

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30 Day Song Challenge:
Day 18: A song that you wish you heard on the radio.
Whatever is going to be Adele's new single. I'm thinking... "Someone like you"

I mention Adele alot, huh?

PS- Watch the above video, it's great.

#237. not so cool after shots of the #SUMonsoon

I unfortunately didn't get any live pictures of what was deemed the #SUMonsoon because I didn't have my camera on campus today... but I did get a couple way after shots.

Rain clouds rolled in and out all day. 

Rain droplets caught on my window screen provided for a really cool manual focus while pointing at lights picture. 

Click here and here for what was floating around twitter during the half hour of torrential winds, rain, thunder, lightning, flash flooding..and kayaking.

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30 Day Song Challenge
Day 17: A song that you hear often on the radio
"Grenade"- Bruno Mars



I loved this song, but I'm sick of it.. lets start playing his new song " The Lazy Song" more.

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COMPLETE side note but I want to share this.
I found out about this "Someone Like You" cover from my friend Jasmijn. It's Amber Riley (aka Mercedes from Glee). Now, I can be a bit of a snob when it comes to Adele covers..but let's face it. Adele is Adele. No one can top her.
But I think this cover comes pretty close to Adele's level.

Dear Glee writers. Next time you have someone do a Adele cover.. you should pick Amber Riley and not Gwyneth Paltrow. She wasn't awful.. but Amber is 100 million times better. Just saying.
Or you guys could have just hired the above mentioned Jasmijn for the night to do the "Turning Tables" cover.
Oh my aritchokes, this is amazing.


Okay enough videos. Night!

#236. april showers bring (pre) may flowers

We can only hope there's a reason for this unending rain.

PS- Sorry for the huge delay in posts. I went home for Easter and forgot the cord that connects my camera to my laptop.

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30 Day Song Challenge
Day 16- A song that you used to love, but now you hate
"Airplanes"- B.o.B feat. Hayley Williams

I couldn't think of a song that I "hate" now but used to love.. so I just picked a song that I used to love but because the radio played it every 5 seconds, can no longer listen to it.

#235. happy easter!

Decorating eggs are great and all, but Jesus being alive is the reason this day exists/and should be celebrated. 

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always LIVES to intercede for them."- Hebrews 7:25

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30 Day Song Challenge 

Day 15: A song that describes you.
"Vision of You"- Shane & Shane

I could have written the lyrics of this song myself.

#234. easter decor around the house.

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30 Day Song Challenge
Day 14- A Song that no would expect you to love
"Chicken Fried"- Zac Brown Band

#233. orchids

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30 Day Song Challenge
Day 13- A song that is a guilty pleasure
"Somebody to love"- Justin Bieber feat. Usher

No shame.

#232. sushi (that I made!)

Definitely learned how to roll sushi in my cooking class today.

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30 Day Song Challenge:
Day 12: A song from a Band you Hate
"The Climb"- Miley Cyrus

I don't "hate" her.. but I definitely dislike her music.. and please don't even let me get started on her acting.

#231. hipster

 Candy necklace

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30 Day Song Challenge: 
Day 11: A song from your favorite band
(Can I post a song from one of my favorite artists instead?)
"I'll be waiting"- ADELE

I loved Adele's since her first album...but she completely outdid herself with her second album. I've listened to it almost everyday since I got it. Here's my favorite song off of it (the live version is all I could find on youtube)


Because its impossible to post one Adele song....

#230. fortune

Oh really?

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30 Day Song Challenge:
Day 10: A song that makes you fall asleep
"Name"- Goo Goo Dolls

I remember being on a plane ride, pressing play for the Goo Goo Dolls on my ipod and next thing you know I was fast asleep. I think I was having trouble sleeping...and it was as though there was something magical in this song, Iris, Slide, Better Days, & Black Balloon.



These songs are great and ever since that plane ride.. if I'm having trouble sleeping, I put them on.

#229. ice cream cone.

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30 Day Song Challenge:
Day 9: A song that you can dance to
"Yeah 3x"- Chris Brown


Probably not as good as Chris Brown dances in the video though.

Close second: "Whip my Hair- Willow Smith

#228. best friends

If there ever were such a thing as a "best friends award." I'm almost positive these girls would win it.

I told them to pose for the camera..and this is what I got:

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30 Day Song Challenge
Day 8: A song that you know all the words to.
"Stronger"- Kanye West


I mean, I know the words to alot of songs... but this is one of my favorites to sing.
Plus I love showing off my raping skills ;)

#227. blah blah rain blah blah blah

Sometimes rainy, gray days don't bother me. But sometimes they do.

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30 Day Song Challenge:
Day 7: A song that Reminds You of a Certain Event
"Larger Than Life"- Backstreet Boys

Backstreet Boys Larger Than Life by Okdude81
On the car ride to BWC sophomore year, Brittany, Chelsea, and I replayed the beginning of this song over and over again..and laughed over and over again

#226.bonfire

Today was an afternoon/night of target practice, a bonfire..and wait for it... a HOT TUB. I haven't been in a hot tub in 3 years. And I've been dying to go into a hot tub over those 3 years. I was beyond excited.

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30 Day Song Challenge
Day 6: A Song that Reminds You of Somewhere
"Seventeen Years"- Ratatat


We played this song after each of our weekly meetings when I was on Summer Project in Santa Monica, CA.

#225. sunset

30 Day Song Challenge:
Day 5: A song that Reminds You of Someone (My friend Dulci being that someone)
"Girl America"- Mat Kearney


I feel like anyone who knows Dulci is immediately reminded of her when they hear this song. (Not because its about her, but because it was her favorite song and everyone seemed to know that fact about her).
PS- Click the link for Mat Kearny's live version of the song, and at the end he sings a cover of Adele's "Chasing Pavements"

#224. "april showers bring earthworms."

A friend of mine tweeted the above post title earlier today. She was so right.

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30 Day Song Challenge
Day 4: A song that makes you sad.
"Just a Dream"- Carrie Underwood

I'll be honest, music doesn't usually make me "sad".. because if you know me, you know I often have a habit of not really listening to the words of song.. so it'd be hard to get sad, not truly knowing the words & all.

But nonetheless.. this song(especially when its coupled with the music video) is pretty sad.

#223. pattern

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30 Day Song Challenge.
Day 3: Song that makes you happy.
"Haven't Met You Yet"- Michael Buble

Really this video is what makes me happy.. because honestly, who doesn't want their life to break out into spontaneous musical numbers from time to time? Plus I love Michael Buble, and anything by him..including this song. 

Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet by Warner-Music

#222. stairwell shadows

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30 Day Song Challenge. Click here if you have no idea what this 30 day thing is.

Day 2- Your Least Favorite Song: What's My Name- Rihanna ft. Drake

Every time I am forced to listen to this song, my ears bleed. 

#221. same old, same old.

I don't think I'll ever get sick of the whole "manual focus while pointing my camera at lights" photo.

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Confession. I've been horrible at posting my pictures on time lately. I'm still taking a photo a day, but have become custom to not posting that photo until 4 days later. To be honest I've reached the point of the year when its become a bit of a drag to continually post a photo a day. I  heard about the 30 day song challenge through my friend Laura's blog. So I'm starting it, with the hopes that I'll get back in the habit of actually posting my pictures every day.

Day 1- Your Favorite Song: Ain't No Mountain High Enough- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrel

A classic.  The lyrics have never really had anything to do with my life, but I can assure you I will never get sick of belting this song.

[Here's a list of each of the 30 days: Day 1 – Your favorite song/Day 02 – Your least favorite song/Day 03 – A song that makes you happy/Day 04 – A song that makes you sad/Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone/ Day 06 – A song that reminds you of somewhere/Day 07 – A song that reminds you of a certain event/Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to/Day 09 – A song that you can dance to/ Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep/ Day 11 – A song from your favorite band/ Day 12 – A song from a band you hate/ Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure/ Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love/ Day 15 – A song that describes you/ Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate/ Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio/ Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio/ Day 19 – A song from your favorite album/ Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry/ Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy/ Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad/ Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding/ Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral/ Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh/ Day 26 – A song that you can play on an instrument/ Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play/ Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty/ Day 29 – A song from your childhood/ Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year]

#220. cbo's soccer skills.

Today was the first of hopefully many nice weather days in Syracuse.
The quad was full of people throwing around footballs & frisbees, people not doing homework (myself plus every other person who came to the quad to "get some work done)), and Chelsea showing off her soccer skills.

#219. golden adornment

aka the edge of a mirror.

#218. heidi's skills

Camera shake is affecting Heidi's face a bit in this photo, but I wanted to show one of the ball spinning without her other hand! 

I put up three of these pictures solely so everyone could see Sarah's expression change each time.

#217. faith

Two years ago at juice jam I made a bracelet out of these beads at one of the club tables. I've since somehow gotten rid of the string, so it now it just sits on my dresser.

-Take a peek into my prayer life of the last week  (bullet point version)
•Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. - Hebrews 6:12-15
•Faith= taking God at his word, believing in the unseen, not trusting in your circumstances
•One of his many promises= "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
• Hardest part for me= waiting patiently for God to reveal his plan to me, not trusting in my circumstances
• I am freaking out, it's my last month of school
• Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. - Romans 4:19-21
•Dang, Abraham.
Amen. 

#216. shadows

#215. jar

#214. pancake brunch for the MEN

As a way of saying thank you for the CRU guys cooking dinner for the us ladies on Valentines day, we had a pancake brunch for them.

There was balloon blowing..

and cooking,

and eating, 

and of course, posing with mustaches. 

(Photo cred: Cynthia)

(Focus is a bit tricky with a 50mm 2.8 lens)

#213. monolopy

Some of the girls from my small group got together to watch a movie, but not before Anna placed her Tops monopoly pieces in place.

#212. fake flowers

I have a few of these lying around my room. I'd like to think one day my amazing ability to kill real flowers will go away.. but until then, fake flowers will do.